| blue-eyed grass | <botany> A grasslike plant (Sisyrinchium anceps), with small flowers of a delicate blue colour. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| blue fever | An acute tick-borne illness caused by the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii. The disease is characterised by sudden onset of headache, chills and fever which can persist for 2-3 weeks. A characteristic rash appears on the extremities and trunk about the 4th day of illness. (27 Sep 1997) |
| blue grass | <botany> A species of grass (Poa compressa) with bluish green stems, valuable in thin gravelly soils; wire grass. Kentucky blue grass, a species of grass (Poa pratensis) which has running rootstocks and spreads rapidly. It is valuable as a pasture grass, as it endures both winter and drought better than other kinds, and is very nutritious. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| blue-green algae | The former name for the blue-green bacteria, now classified as Cyanobacteria. A group of prokaryotes. Synonym: Cyanobacteria. (05 May 2002) |
| blue-green bacteria | <organism> Modern term for the blue green algae, prokaryotic cells that use chlorophyll on intracytoplasmic membranes for photosynthesis. The blue green colour is due to the presence of phycobiliproteins. Found as single cells, colonies or simple filaments. In Anabaena, in which the cells are arranged as a filament, heterocysts capable of nitrogen fixation occur at regular intervals. According to the endosymbiont theory Cyanobacteria are the progenitors of chloroplasts. (18 Nov 1997) |
| blue-green bacterium | <organism> Modern term for the blue green algae, prokaryotic cells that use chlorophyll on intracytoplasmic membranes for photosynthesis. The blue green colour is due to the presence of phycobiliproteins. Found as single cells, colonies or simple filaments. In Anabaena, in which the cells are arranged as a filament, heterocysts capable of nitrogen fixation occur at regular intervals. According to the endosymbiont theory Cyanobacteria are the progenitors of chloroplasts. (18 Nov 1997) |
| blue jay | <zoology> The common jay of the United States (Cyanocitta, or Cyanura, cristata). The predominant colour is bright blue. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| blue line | A bluish line along the free border of the gingiva, occurring in chronic heavy metal poisoning. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blue naevus | <dermatology> A nonmalignant accumulation of highly pigmented melanocytes deep in the dermis. (16 Dec 1997) |
| blue nevus | A dark blue or blue-black nevus covered by smooth skin and formed by heavily pigmented spindle-shaped or dendritic melanocytes in the reticular dermis. Synonym: Jadassohn-Tieche nevus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blue oedema | The swelling and cyanosis of an extremity in hysterical paralysis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blue ointment | A grease-based ointment containing 20% finely divided metallic mercury, formerly widely used for local application to the skin for the destruction of body lice. Risk is associated with transdermal absorption of mercury and a local dermatitis. Synonym: mild mercurial ointment. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blue pus | Pus tinged with pyocyanin, a product of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blue pus bacillus | A species of gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria commonly isolated from clinical specimens (wound, burn, and urinary tract infections). It is also found widely distributed in soil and water. P. Aeruginosa is a major agent of nosocomial infection. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blue rubber-bleb nevi | A syndrome characterised by erectile, easily compressible, thin-walled haemangiomatous nodules, widely distributed in the skin and in the alimentary canal, and sometimes in other tissues; lesions in the gut may perforate or cause haemorrhage, and the patient may be anaemic from continual bleeding. (05 Mar 2000) |